I discovered a short while ago that I had been accused, although not directly, in the most insidious manner of being bought at different times by the European Union with a corrupting affect and cosying up with them via European rider projects.
As an employee, representative to a riders organisation in Europe for nearly ten years, these accusations cover people I have worked with in this role, all those that had gone before whether employed or volunteers and some that are still part of this riders group in Europe.
Having been involved with these projects which promoted motorcycling within the European Union, looked at in a positive manner regarding motorcycling and were steered by the national organisation of the European rider organisations through their representatives, some of whom are still in place today.
Here are my words from 2008:
“February 2008 – FEMA (Federation of European Motorcyclists Federation) also seems to have a new freshness about it, celebrating 20 years of riders’ rights in Europe this year, new projects starting, new national organisations on board, and a new President, this year is looking good.
This freshness in FEMA did not happen overnight, over the last five years FEMA has been guided and steered rigorously by the out going President to reach where it is today.
It has been said many times that the legislation we see introduced to the UK comes from Europe and because of this, we need a strong FEMA. Legislation and issues that affect motorcycling not only come from the European Commission, the European Parliament but also the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
More and more of these legislative issues, especially regarding road safety, hail from the UN (United Nations Road Safety Collaboration), collaborating with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Therefore any threats we face are not just at the European level they are on a global scale to on harmonize legislation worldwide.”
Below are the words from the incoming president of that rider organisation as it started the participation in a European project in 2008:
“Fundamental to our role as the defender of riders’ rights in Europe, is that any technology must be developed in such as way that the rider has complete control of his or her machine. This is central to FEMA’s philosophy.
FEMA got the partners to include in the project, a focus group of experienced motorcycle trainers (who have already expressed their reservations about the proposed systems) as well as a pan European survey to make sure the riders’ voice is clearly heard. The survey gathered opinions from 5,000 riders using 6 languages and was promoted by national riders’ organisations in each of their countries.
As it would be impractical to gather personal comments from each response, some simple questions were devised to investigate how useful – or not – the riders see different ICT technologies. However, the survey remains capable of impartially demonstrating the riders’ opinions of different technologies and must form part of the final report of the Consortium to the EU Commission. If the majority of riders reject these systems, then that must be reported.
FEMA’s participation in the SAFERIDER project has been criticised by some riders, but history shows we can easily be ignored if we stand on the sidelines. We can no longer afford to simply shout our disapproval after decisions have been made – we must be at the centre of the debates on transport and on the future of mobility if we want to steer governments and research organisations in the right direction.”
So in conclusion to the piece about Brexit written by the author: my response is “Do not try to square your thoughts over the top of the dedicated work undertaken by people over many years just to prove some sort of BREXIT point.”
It only takes the maligning opinions of one person to destroy the good work of people and tarnish their past efforts to promote and protect motorcycling because those words will be taken up by the acolytes and proselytes of that person without question!
I disconnected with this person sometime ago on all social media because of his personal attacks on myself and partner because I/we did not fit his agenda and disagreed with his views.
Trevor Baird – We Are Still The Boat Rockers and Freedom Fighters!
Motorcycle Minds
Read – As a British citizen, why did you vote for Brexit? – which spawned this article!
About Me
I was born and raised in Northern Ireland and was Chairman of a local motorcycle club for four years in the 1990s.
From taking part in the Bigger than Borders demo in 1995 I eventually became the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) UK’s Regional Representative for Northern Ireland, before moving to mainland UK in 2002 where I worked as a full time employee for MAG UK, first as Director of Public Affairs and then as General Secretary.
During this time I was also a representative at the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA) which is made of twenty four national rider organisations from 19 countries across Europe.
In 2008 I left MAG UK and became FEMA’s Technical Officer representing an International Coalition of organisations from Europe and the USA at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) via the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) and the Working Party on Road Traffic Safety (WP.1), returning to Northern Ireland in 2009 and setting up Right To Ride.
I returned to Northern Ireland in 2009 and set up the riders’ rights company Right To Ride and Right To Right EU with partner Elaine Hardy, looking in-depth at motorcycle legislative issues, as well as setting up motorcycle initiatives with the support of regional government funding.
Semi-retired at one stage in the South West of France but now on a tour of Europe I have, along with partner Elaine Hardy, re-established the Motorcycle Minds internet blog.
However after looking to live in Italy but with the curb on travelling through the COVID 19 pandemic, Brexit the UK leaving Europe, we have settled in Portugal as residents!
My history of motorcycling is long – starting on a Yamaha DT 175MX in 1977, before getting hooked on the BMW GS styled bikes in the late nineties, moving through from the 1100GS to the R1200GSA Adventure then an F800GS. In between there has been a K1200RS, a Fireblade and a motorcycle and sidecar combination with a one time seismic like shift of tectonic plates of a Yamaha XV950, he has now gone back to his roots via an unexpected choice of a Royal Enfield Himalayan.
Unintended Consequences – Investigative Research
11th September 2022
A link to a paper that Motorcycle Minds Elaine Hardy wrote, that can perhaps also explain some what to as why I and indeed Elaine are being “attacked” and comments on issues are deleted!
This paper highlights the potential connections, either directly or indirectly between the protagonists considered in this paper and Russian politics.
Whether there are any intentions to benefit either financially or politically from Russia’s desire to create discord and disunity in the U.K. and Europe, is not really relevant nor is the aim of the paper to prove disloyalty to the British government by the actors mentioned, especially now that opinions could be wholly different in consideration of the pariah state that Russia has become, as seen in the West after the invasion of Ukraine.
The purpose really is to demonstrate how through unintended consequences, paths cross and depending on the strength and power of the protagonists, how their influence on others can ultimately define politics on a grander scale.
What is relevant to this paper is the attitude and political views taken whether because of religious beliefs, or nationalistic ideals of a sovereign nation or possibly more important, the hunger for power. Power is a fickle master and as has been highlighted can lead to positions that can have disastrous effects on a wider and sometimes gullible community.
The relationship between the protagonists is documented in this paper and demonstrate that the affinity of political and religious beliefs and power all appear to coincide in one way or another, what also connects them for all the wrong reasons, are motorcycles and through this, influence and abuse of people who simply use this form of transport either for commuting or for leisure.
From that to issues such as the U.K. breaking away from the European Union, everything has escalated into a deeper and darker world.
Unintended Consequences – September 2022 pdf 907kb
Very well said, Trevor. I am so sorry you have been personally attacked by an ill informed twat.
It just goes to show that there are still nasty people out there who will attack the thing we all love & try to do damage without a thought to the historic struggle we lived our lives for ( you remember those days)
I fondly remember watching Simon Millward go off to Brussels to set up FEMA all those years ago.
We need to stand together to fight ignorance from all directions 🤟🤟